Academics & Education

An academic is fired over a medieval painting of the Prophet Muhammad The dismissal of an instructor at Hamline University on baseless charges of 'Islamophobia' raises concerns about freedom on campus

(New Lines) On Nov. 18, Hamline University’s student newspaper, the Oracle, published an article notifying its community members of two recent incidents on its campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota, one indubitably homophobic and the other supposedly Islamophobic. Both occurrences were placed under […]

Academics & Education

Shamima Begum: Police and school ‘missed opportunities’ to stop her leaving UK, lawyers claim Questions have been raised over whether 'key indicators' that Ms Begum and her two school friends were at risk of being trafficked were missed.

(Sky News) The police and her school missed opportunities to stop Shamima Begum travelling to Syria and joining ISIS and should have stopped her, according to her lawyers. There were questions about whether “key indicators” that Ms Begum and her two school […]

Academics & Education

Home Office accuses UK Muslim student group of acting ‘dangerously and irresponsibly’ Federation of Student Islamic Societies plans to host anti-counter-extremism university tour

(National-UAE) A British Muslim student group has been accused of acting “dangerously and irresponsibly” by the government for hosting an anti-counter-extremism university tour. The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis) is hosting a tour of seven universities, including three Russell Group institutions, […]

Academics & Education

Sweden banning Islamic schools Closing Islamic schools is political decision with anti-Islamic motives, says Swedish politician

(Anadolu) Despite many being among the best-performing schools in the country, the Swedish government continues to close down Islamic academic institutions in a bid to push “anti-Islamic rhetoric” and “stop privatization” in education. Earlier this year, the Nordic country’s then-Educational Minister Lena […]

Academics & Education

School board admits mistake using ‘Free Palestine’ as example of violence in dress code Advocates from London's Palestinian community say they were hurt to see the slogan in new guidelines

(CBC) The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is facing criticism for using the slogan “Free Palestine” as an example of a label on clothing that could incite violence. The example appeared in guidelines outlining the new dress code for students. It sparked complaints from community […]

Academics & Education

Why more Muslim Americans are choosing to send their children to Islamic schools Many Muslim parents are opting to send their children to Islamic schools because they feel secular schooling is heading in the wrong direction

(Middle East Eye) Abdullah Khan attended public school his entire life. The truth is, his parents had wanted to send their kids to a private Islamic school, but they just couldn’t afford it — and Abdullah believes he suffered because of it. […]

Academics & Education

English-language school boards argue Quebec’s secularism law should not apply to them Lawyer for EMSB argues religious diversity is part of cultural DNA of boards

(CBC) English-language school boards argued before the Quebec Court of Appeal Wednesday they should be exempt from Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — because religious diversity is part of the cultural heritage of English schools in Quebec. “The examples […]

Academics & Education

Mount Ridley College student upset after teacher shows ‘explicit and blasphemous‘ cartoon A Mount Ridley College student has been left with 'psychological and mental trauma' after a teacher played an 'explicit and blasphemous' cartoon.

(Herald Sun) A Muslim student has been left with “painful psychological and mental trauma” after an offensive cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad was shown in a year 11 media class. A teacher at Mount Ridley College in Craigieburn played an “explicit and […]

Academics & Education

Muslim women most affected by Quebec’s secularism law, Court of Appeal hears School board lawyer tells court only Muslim women have lost jobs due to Bill 21

(CBC) As the court challenge of Quebec’s secularism law — commonly known as Bill 21 — continues this week before the Quebec Court of Appeal, groups contesting the law argued Tuesday Bill 21 overwhelmingly discriminates against Muslim women. The Quebec government and several civil […]

Academics & Education

Hearings on constitutionality of Quebec’s secularism law underway in Court of Appeal Opponents of law argue government's use of notwithstanding clause to protect law goes too far

(CBC) Opponents of Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — argued before the province’s Court of Appeal Monday that the CAQ government went too far in pre-emptively invoking the constitutional notwithstanding clause in order to protect the law from court […]

Academics & Education

NUS president is sacked after antisemitism probe Shaima Dallali is dismissed as president of the student body after panel meets to consider the findings of KC Rebecca Tuck's investigation into antisemitism allegations

(Jewish News) The president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Shaima Dallali has been dismissed from her role — following an independent investigation into antisemitism claims against her and the student body. Jewish News has learned that an NUS disciplinary panel has concluded […]

Academics & Education

Muslim schoolchildren in France often denied food options that fit their faith Court ruling found offering alternate menu choices did not violate secularist principles, argue concerned parents in petition, saying their children often go hungry

(Anadolu) Although the subject gets little media coverage, the problem of food in French school cafeterias is a headache for many parents of Muslim students. Citing their version of secularism, some mayors have decided not to offer alternative menus in school cafeterias. […]

Academics & Education

McGill lecturer’s tweet calling execution of Iranian protesters ‘heartwarming’ sparks backlash McGill says it is looking into matter while petition gathers thousands of signatures online

(CBC) Red tape covered their mouths. Their hands were bound behind their backs. They were on their knees. That was the silent statement protesters wanted to make as they gathered in front of Montreal’s McGill University Thursday afternoon to demonstrate against online […]

Academics & Education

CUNY pulls former CAIR staffer from anti-Zionism investigation Prof. Jeffrey Lax says choosing a former employee of the Council on American–Islamic Relations to conduct the probe showed 'at best, extremely poor judgment.'

(JNS) The City University of New York (CUNY) has reversed course after it assigned a former employee of a vehemently anti-Israel NGO to investigate allegations of anti-Zionist discrimination. The probe came at the request of Prof. Jeffrey Lax, chair of the business […]

Academics & Education

Congress probes Oberlin College prof. with links to Iranian regime A letter sent to Oberlin wants answers on professor's 'apparent leading role in covering up the Iranian regime's atrocities'

(Fox) Two Republican lawmakers from the Committee [on] Education and Labor called for an inquiry Wednesday into Oberlin College’s religion studies professor Mohammad Jafar Mahallati due to his reported ties with the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of […]

Academics & Education

UK: Muslim students threaten to disaffiliate from NUS after Islamophobia claims The Federation of Student Islamic Societies said it would urge its members to disaffiliate after Shaima Dallali was reportedly suspended from the union

(Middle East Eye) The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), the national body for Muslim students in Britain, has threatened to launch a disaffiliation campaign against the National Union of Students (NUS) after the NUS suspended its president-elect, Shaima Dallali. Earlier this […]